Chiefs 20 Tigers 24

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

 

Exeter Chiefs 20

Leicester Tigers 24

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

Not for the first time in their illustrious history, Leicester Tigers played the role of ‘party poopers’ as they came from behind to sink hosts Exeter Chiefs.

As Devon’s finest opened their doors for the first time since the multi-million pound redevelopment of Sandy Park this summer, it was the boot of England international Freddie Burns that ultimately guided his side to success in Devon.

The summer signing from Gloucester has wasted little time in settling into his new surroundings and his 11-point haul, together with tries from Anthony Allen and Ben Youngs, plus a late Owen Williams penalty, proved just enough for Richard Cockerill’s side.

The Chiefs, to their credit, played their part in an absorbing contest and they were rewarded with first half tries from Dave Ewers and Hadyn Thomas. However, not even Gareth Steenson’s metronomic boot could save them as they fell just short of their target.

Having followed up an unbeaten pre-season programme with a thumping 52-0 victory at London Welsh, Baxter felt little need to tinker with his winning formula from that which had started the season so well at the Kassam Stadium.

Indeed, the sole change came on the bench where Damian Welch was fit to return to action, taking the place of Don Armand.

Meanwhile, the Tigers - who started their season with a 36-17 victory at home to Newcastle Falcons - made five changes to their line-up as they brought Mathew Tait and Anthony Allen into the back division with Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling and Robert Barbieri added up front.

It was, however, the Chiefs who started the brighter, picking up seamlessly from where they left off against the Exiles.

Initial pressure failed to bring much reward, but a clever break down the blindside from former Tiger, Thomas Waldrom, saw him feed Thomas on the run. Sadly, the Chiefs No.9 was felled by a high and swinging arm from Vereniki Goneva and the Fijian flyer was banished to the sin-bin for a ten-minute spell.

With Goneva confined to a watching brief momentarily, the Chiefs looked to make their numerical advantage tell. A line-out drive looked destined for the try-line only for a knock-on just inches out, but they pounced on 11 minutes with the first points of the contest.

A close-range scrum laid the foundations for flanker Ewers to bulldoze his way over for the score, which Steenson duly converted.

The Chiefs continued to look impressive, both in attack and defence, but it was the visitors who levelled things up just before the half-hour with their opening try.

Ben White’s late hit on Graham Kitchener allowed the visitors to kick for the corner - and from the resultant line-out they worked the ball in field to Burns, whose clever grubber in behind the Exeter rearguard popped up nicely for Allen to claim the converted score.

Undeterred by the Tigers first meaningful attack, the Chiefs rallied well and sounded their intent when the lively Sam Hill burst through the centre at pace before shipping the ball right to Matt Jess who, with the line begging, was unable to hang onto the pass.

The knock-on gave the Tigers the scrum, but a huge shove from the Exeter eight put their rivals under the cosh and Julian Salvi was penalised for holding on as he looked to clear the danger.

From the resultant penalty, the Chiefs bullishly kicked for the corner and having seen charges from Hill and Waldrom thwarted, quick-thinking form Thomas around the ruck saw him snipe over from close range for a second converted score.

As the half drew to a close, Burns and Steenson exchanged penalties apiece, before the former added a second with the last play when Baxter’s men were adjudged to have been in front of Henry Slade as he looked to clear his lines.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 17 LEICESTER TIGERS 13

Summer signing Burns added a third penalty inside a minute of the restart as the Chiefs were pulled up for some sloppy work at the restart.

With little to choose between either side, both were happy to have a go in attack with Burns’ clever chip finding Goneva in space; whilst at the other end some clever footwork from Slade saw him slice through the middle only to knock on with bodies either side of him.

The Tigers, ten-times champions of this league, are no mugs and with Burns cleverly positioning them deep inside the Chiefs half with some astute kicking, they slowly began to turn the screw on their Devon hosts.

The physical forces - Goneva and Manu Tuilagi - were used as the battering rams for the visitors, before they finally worked an opening wide in the right corner that allowed England and Lions star Youngs to sneak over and put his side in front for the first time.

It was somewhat tough on the home side, but they responded well and came within a whisker of regaining their lead just past the hour mark through Ben White. Sadly, the Australian’s effort was chalked off for another crucial knock-on, this time from Hill, after winger Ian Whitten had caused panic in the Tigers defence with a sprint down the left flank.

Undeterred, the Chiefs continued to press forward and they rewarded when Steenson reduced the deficit to just a point when the Tigers were pinged for straying offside in midfield.

With minutes remaining, though, the Chiefs were dealt a blow when Ewers was yellow-carded for a professional foul deep inside his own 22. Although the Tigers initially pressed for a drive from the first penalty, a second penalty chance was crucially dispatched by replacement Williams to give his side a four-point lead.

Although the Chiefs did their best to salvage something right at the death, the Tigers happily picked off their prey to secure a notable away-day scalp.

Chiefs: C Botha; I Whitten, H Slade, S Hill, M Jess; G Steenson, H Thomas (W Chudley 52); C Rimmer (B Moon 52), J Yeandle (capt), T Francis (M Low 54); M Lees (D Welch 52), R Caldwell; D Ewers, B White (K Horstmann 72), T Waldrom. Replacements (not used): E Taione, C Sweeney, J Arnott.

Yellow Card: Ewers

Tries - Ewers, Thomas; Conversions - Steenson (2); Penalties - Steenson (2)

Tigers: M Tait; N Morris, M Tuilagi, A Allen, V Goneva; F Burns (O Williams 74), B Youngs (capt), D Mele 73; L Mulipola, T Youngs (L Ghiraldini 56), F Balmain (R Brugnara 74); G Kitchener (S De Chaves 68), G Parling; J Gibson, J Salvi, R Barbieri (J Crane 52). Replacements (not used): T Pasquali, M Smith.

Tries - Allen, B Youngs; Conversion - Burns; Penalties - Burns (3), Williams

Yellow Card: Goneva

Referee: JP Doyle

Attendance: 9,721

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Gloucester (A), Aviva Premiership, Friday, September 18 (7.30pm)